By Emeagi Emeka Williams
Ebonyi State born arts technocrat and real estate mogul, who had for decades bestridden the walls of corporate business in Nigeria and indeed Africa like a Colossus, Chief Solomon Ogbonna assumed the headship of presidency of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos chapter in the year 2018, perhaps after asking God almighty to give him a firm place to stand so that he could lift the world-exactly the way Archimedes the Greek requested.
And when God offered him a place as the president of the Lagos chapter of the foremost and Apex Pan-Igbo socio cultural body (Ohaneze), he immediately began to prove the age-long critics and cynics of the hitherto controversial organisation wrong.
Some of the early giant strides he made towards monumental achievements were the re-organisation of the stature, texture and structure of the body in order to place it on the pedestal of national and global reckon; and the acquisition of a state Secretariat after 27 years of the existence of Lagos Ohaneze, a befitting one for that matter, to end a culture of meeting at different unwholesome venues- situation which did not allow progress and unity.
Having achieved that to the chagrin and displeasure of cynics, Chief Ogbonna quickly set the Ohaneze on the path to actualising set goals for the generality of Ndigbo; he unarguably was ruled by the conciousness that, though his superiors reign supreme at the national level, he had a peculiar burden of beautifully superintending over the affairs of the Igbos in a peculiar land such as Lagos; aware that what happens in Lagos has a pace-setting capacity. So Chief Ogbonna was out for patriotic excellence as a quintessential compatriot and ambassador of the Igbos across board.
Having actualised paradigm shift from the old chaotic order, he clairvoyantly had a view of the essence of first achieving peace and ensuring harmonious co-existence between the Yorubas, who are the hosts of Ndigbo, as well as people of other nationalities dwelling in the centre of excellence, as Lagos State is otherwise known.
Against the insinuations of many, he touched Ohaneze like Midas, and it is now getting golden.
Chief Ogbonna was instrumental to quenching the fire that was igniting over the comment credited to the Oba of Lagos, who was alleged of promising to throw the Igbos into the Lagoon for exercising political liberty or freedom, then. He actually marshalled elders and leaders of thought such as the former Vice-President of Nigeria, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe and the erstwhile ambassador of Nigeria to USA & Israel,Ambassador George Obiozor to join him to the palace of the Oba of Lagos for the purpose of preventing a reign of catastrophy!
As a strategic achiever, who believes in the sacrosancy and the sacredness of the peace and progress of Ndigbo in Lagos ( even everywhere), in the days that preceded the 2019 elections, he mobilised Ndigbo in Lagos and conscientised them advisorily on the need for for a safe political participation considering the fact that over 8 million Igbos reside and do business in Lagos. Although Chief Ogbonna is not a card carrying member of any political party, he proceeded to raise the hand of the new Gov. Babjide Sanwoolu before the Igbo nation in Lagos at different huge gathering at Alaba International and the stadium, just to show that the widespread insinuations that the Igbos represent everything about a particular political party was wrong.
He diligently did all these, even after he in his natural and cultural philanthropic and statesmanly posture, supported Jimi Agbaje by raising funds to help him as a man in need, not because, he (Ogbonna) was party man, or because Ndigbo were thoughtlessly bonded to any party. Chief Ogbonna actually proved that apolitical standing of Ohaneze, and the fact that Ndigbo will only indulge in politics, and support leaderships that build the nation, while placing high premium on the overall welfare of the entire Nigerian people, irrespective of tribe, language and religion. He strongly demonstrated that the Igbos are not slaves to any particular political idealogy or leadership, except such that pursue to ensure common good.
As he roared on as a worthy Igbo Lion, in search of the collective welfare and well-being of Ndigbo, he ensured a healthy relationship with the govt of Lagos State; a feat which resulted in the special empowerment of over 100 Igbo widows by the LASG with the sum of #100,000 each to lift them from the valleys of hopelessness and pain.
It is worthy to note that these women have no political capacity, yet they are no longer the downtrodden, yet Chief Ogbonna showed them love- as a mark of his love for Ndigbo.
It has been etched in the marble of time that during the pandemic lockdown, Chief Ogbonna’s office, residence was always thronged by an avalanche of needy people who eventually got solace and their tears wiped. They got amazing palliatives in the middle of frustration.
Set to celebrate Fajuyi; that Yoruba-born Nigerian Soldier who died fighting the course of the Igbos, during the military rule, with a post-humous honour, Chief Ogbonna is making a loud expression that he is a detribalised Nigerian who is poised to pursue a prosperous and United Nigeria, where no one will be cheated. Away from the plan to celebrate great Fajuyi, Chief Solomon Ogbonna (Aguene), as part of his agenda to remain astoundingly outstanding, has set another machinery in motion to celebrate the fallen and living cast members of the then novel or popular NTA TV series- The New Masquerade, to show his penchant for positive productivity.
Little wonder he is always surrounded by the who-is -who of the Nollywood sector.Ogbonna is actually their uncommon advocate ambassador and benefactor.
As he reign unfolds on the presidency of Ohaneze Lagos- there is no gainsaying that he is a square peg in a square hole against what cynics think.
